Open English Translation JOS Chapter 7

7 However the Israelis disobeyed the command about not taking anything. Achan (son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Yehudah) took something that was prohibited, so Yahweh was angry with the Israelis.

2 Meanwhile, Yehoshua sent some of his men from Yericho to Ay (east of Bethel and near Beyt-Aven) and told them, “Go to Ay and spy out the land.” So the men went and checkout out Ay. 3 When they returned to Yehoshua, they told him, “Don’t send all the warriors—only around two to three thousand men should go and attack them. Don’t bother everyone else because Ay is small.” 4 So around three thousand warriors went to attack Ay, but they were defeated and had to flee back. 5 The men from Ay chased them from the city gate downhill to Shevarim and fought them on the slopes. About thirty-six of them were killed, and the Israelis became very afraid and lost all their courage.

6 Yehoshua and the Israeli elders tore their clothes in grief and fell to their knees in front of Yahweh’s box until evening, throwing dust onto their heads in despair. 7 Then Yehoshua asked, “Yahweh, my master, why did you bring these people across the Yordan and then let us be defeated and killed by the Amorites? If only we’d been content and stayed on the other side of the river. 8 Please, my master, what can I say now that we have had to flee in shame from our enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and the other people living in this land hear about this, they’ll surround us and kill all of us. Then what would you do to defend your honour?

10 But Yahweh told Yehoshua, “Stand up! Why is your face on the ground like that? 11 Israel has sinned and disobeyed my agreement[fn] that I made with them. They’ve also taken prohibited things—stealing, deceiving, and put it with their own possessions. 12 That’s why they were unable to defeat their enemies—they had to flee from them because they took what was prohibited. I won’t be with you all again unless you all destroy what was taken. 13 So get up and tell the people, ‘Purify yourselves for tomorrow, because our God Yahweh says that we took something prohibited and we won’t be able to better our enemies until it’s removed from among us. 14 Tomorrow morning you all must present yourselves by your tribes. Then the tribe that Yahweh singles out, must present yourselves by your clans, and the clan that Yahweh singles out, must present yourselves by household. Then the household that Yahweh singles out, must present yourselves individually. 15 The man who is caught will be destroyed by fire, along with everything that belongs to him, because he’s violated Yahweh’s agreement and committed a disgraceful sin among Israel.”

16 So Yehoshua got up early the next morning and ordered each tribe to come forward singly, and the tribe of Yehudah was singled out. 17 Then each of the clans came forward and the Zerahite clan was singled out, and when their families came forwards, Zabdi’s household was singled out. 18 When everyone in that extended family came forward, Achan (son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Yehudah) was singled out. 19 Then Yehoshua told Achan, “My son, now honour Yahweh the God of Israel and give thanks to him. And tell me now what you’ve done—don’t hide it from me.”

20 “It’s true,” Achan replied, “I’ve sinned against Yahweh the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 I saw a beautiful Babylonian cloak and two hundred silver pieces and a tongue-shaped piece of gold (weighing six-hundred grams) there inside Yericho. I wanted them so I took them, and they’re hidden in the ground under my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 Yehoshua sent some messengers and they ran to the tent, and sure enough, it was all hidden there in the ground with the silver underneath. 23 They took it out of the tent and brought it back to Yehoshua and all the people, and spread it out in front of Yahweh.

24 Then Yehoshua took Achan and the silver, the cloak, the gold along with his children and his animals, his tent and everything he owned, and took them to the Akor Valley along with all the people, 25 and he said, “Why did you cause trouble for us? Yahweh will trouble you today.” And the people executed him by throwing rocks at him. Then they threw rocks at them all and burnt the bodies 26 and piled rocks over them which are still there to this day and Yahweh’s anger subsided. That’s why that place is called ‘Akor’ (i.e., ‘Trouble’) Valley to this day.